Machine for cutting the tops from vegetables



' 0% 1947. c. c. RODERY I 2,429,488

MACHINE FOR CUTTING THE TOPS FROM VEGETABLES Filed Nov. 15, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 aafioiery Oct. 21,- 1947. c, C RQDERY 2,429,488

MACHINE FOR CUTTING THE TOPS FROM VEGETABLES Filed Nov. 15, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuwwtom Oct. 21, 1947. c. c. RODEIVRY MACHINE FOR CUTTING THE TOPS FROM VEGETABLES Filed Nov. 15, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I I I I awe/Mow v 618130461 m I WGQQMAUE MW Patented Oct. 21, 1947 MACHINE FOR CUTTING THE TOPS FROM VEGETABLES Conoe C. Rodery, Leachville, Ark.

Application November 15, 1944, Serial No. 563,515

1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in topping machines such as may be employed for the topping of onions, beets, carrots, etc.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a machine on to which beets may be placed, topped and boxed in a quick and satisfactory manner.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a simplified topper which can be moved along the row of dug beets without diverting toward one side or the other due to the provision of a ground cutting guide fin.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line l4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view 100king down on the screen.

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Figure 3.

Numeral 5 generally refers to a frame structure made up of a pair of open side frames, each of which has a V-formation made up of upwardly diverging leg members 6, 1, leg I being longer than the leg 6. The upper end of the short leg member 5 has a vertical extension 8 and between the upper end of the extension 8 and the upper end of the leg member 1 a bridge member 9 is provided.

The bridge members 9 serve to support a platform upon which a power plant H is secured.

The power plant I I has a drive shaft !2 (see Figure 2) and this shaft is equipped with a pulley l3 having a belt l4 trained thereover.

The belt I4 is further trained over a pulley l located on a lower shaft l6 (see Figure 3) and in this manner the shaft I6 is driven.

The shaft It also has a smaller pulley I! thereon from which a belt l8 extends to a pulley is on an axle located between the lower portions of the side frames of the main frame 5. On this axle Z'l are wheels 28 secured to rotate with the axle.

On the intermediate portion of the shaft it is a pulley 29 (see Figure 3). Over the pulley 29 is trained a belt 3%] which extends to a pulley 3! secured to a shaft 32, the shaft 32 bein journalled through bearings 33 mounted on the sidewalls 34 of an elevator 35.

Cutting discs 36, 36 are provided on the end portions of the shaft 32 and employ the sidewalls as shear plates. These cutting discs 36, 36 are intended to top the beets as they are elevated by the elevator 35.

Between the upper and lower portions of the sidewalls 36 of the elevator are rolls 3?, 38 respectively secured to shafts 39, 40 respectively. Trained over the rolls 31, 38 is an elevator belt ii outwardly from which cleats 42 project for the purpose of carrying the beets, onions or carrots up to the toppings 36.

As shown in Figure 1 a gear 43 is provided on the remaining end of the shaft I8 and this meshes with a large gear 44 located on the shaft 37 of the elevator 35. Thus the elevator is driven from the shaft l6 by way of the gears 43, 4d.

The lower end of the elevator 35 is provided with a curved front wall 45 and depending from this wall and being disposed longitudinally of the machine is a ground cutting machine guiding fin i5 which in cutting the ground serves to guide the machine in a straight line.

Bridging the upper portion of each frame leg 6 with the intermediate portion of the corresponding frame leg 1 is a sidewall Gl. Interposed between the sidewalls 41 is a screen 48 through which earth from the topped vegetables can fall onto the ground while the topped vegetables move down the screen 58 (which is inclined) to a box or other receptacle supported by rearwardly a projecting platform 49. The platform 3% is preferably mounted on arms 59 projecting rearwardly from the frame 5.

In the operation of the machine, it can be seen that the machine is set properly on a row so that it will progress straight along the row due to the guiding effect of the ground cutting fin 46.

With the power plant II in operation, the shaft it in being driven will serve to drive topping discs 36 and cut off the tops of beets, carrots or onions that have been thrown into the pockets in the elevator 35 defined by the sidewalls 34 and the spaced cleats 42. As this operation takes place, the shaft I6 is driving the elevator by way of the gears 43, 44 and at the same time the shaft l 6 by way of a sprocketing I8 is driving the axle 2'! On the wheels 28 thereon.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed asnew is:

A topping machine comprising a wheeled frame, a power plant mounted on the frame, an elevator disposed forwardly from the frame, topping means mounted on the elevator, said power plant being adapted to drive the topping means and also the wheels carrying the frame, said topping means consisting of a pair of cutting discs, a shaft carrying these cutting discs, said elevator being provided with sidewalls serving as shear plates against which the cutting discs operate.

CONOE C. RODERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

